Close
Cart
Sign in to view member content

Students and SCAN

Student Corner

SCAN's goal is to post monthly student contributions. Access this page often to view new contributions. Take advantage of this opportunity to share your nutrition interests and experiences with other students and all who access this Web site.

Ellen Coleman, MA, MPH, RD, CSSD, is the coordinator for this section. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and a well-known sports dietitian, exercise physiologist, and professional writer. She is the Chair of the 2011 SCAN Symposium and a SCAN Past-Chair (2003-2004) .

If you have an idea for an experience or article you would like to share with other students, Ellen would like to hear from you. Once your idea is accepted, Ellen will contact you and will mentor your writing on your chosen nutrition topic or arrange an interview with you regarding the experience you would like to share. Ellen will work with you and guide you. You must be a student member of SCAN to participate. Be prepared to submit your resume and a Web quality photo, if available.

Contact Ellen with your idea for SCAN's Student Corner:

Ellen Coleman, MA, MPH, RD, CSSD
Student Corner Coordinator
Riverside, CA
Email: ecolemanrd@aol.com

 

Recent Interviews

Karen Ketsche

Karen Ketsche
Dietetic Intern
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

January 29, 2010

I grew up in Peachtree City, GA in a family that has always been active and health conscious. My father and one of my sisters run marathons competitively, my two other sisters are dedicated horseback riders, and my mom has run a marathon.

Needless to say, health and fitness have always been priorities for us! I was very serious about athletics and trained as a competitive gymnast for twelve years. Additionally, in high school I was involved in several extracurricular activities; my favorite was cheering for my high school’s basketball team. After high school I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University (May 2009). Now I am completing a dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. I hope to begin my career as a Registered Dietitian next summer.

Read Full Interview

Lauren Gasparo Anton

Lauren Gasparo Anton
MS Candidate, Nutritional Sciences
Coordinated Dietetic Program
California State University, Los Angeles

June 19, 2009

I received a BA in English from Cornell University and an MFA in Acting from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. After acting professionally in theatre and commercials for several years, I decided to go into the field of dietetics.

Currently, I am interested in the prevention of eating disorders in athletes. I strongly believe that sport-specific nutrition education, if integrated into the training regimen at the beginning of the athlete’s career, can significantly decrease the incidence of disordered eating and, ultimately, full-blown eating disorders.

As far as sports, I’ve been running for over 20 years, having completed three marathons, two half-marathons and numerous 5 and 10K races. Recently, I bought a road bike and hope to start doing triathlons.

Read Full Interview

Jamie Tade

Jamie Tade
Dietetics student
Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois

January, 2009

My name is Jamie Tade and I’m 23 years old and I’m from a little suburb outside of Chicago called Elmhurst. I graduated from York High School in 2003 and joined the Army just weeks after graduation. I served with the famed 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY, and deployed with them to Baghdad, Iraq in September 2005. Since leaving the Army in December 2006, I have started my college education and am currently a sophomore and Dietetics major at Dominican University in suburban River Forest, Illinois.

Read Full Interview

Patrick Wilson

Patrick Wilson
Family Consumer Science-Dietetics student
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN

May 28th, 2007

I am from Chisholm, MN, a small town in northern Minnesota. I completed my general education courses at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and then decided I wanted to study nutrition. Because nutrition was not offered as a degree at that institution, I looked for nutrition programs at other schools in the state. I transferred to Minnesota State University, Mankato, where I am a Family Consumer Science-Dietetics student. I also have a minor in Corporate and Community Fitness. I am in the third year of the program and plan to graduate next spring.

Read Full Interview

James Lucas

James Lucas, BS
WIC Program
Athlete

February 10th, 2007

I am from Hamden, CT. I graduated from the University of Connecticut, Storrs in the spring of 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences. I also earned a minor in Nutrition for Sport & Exercise. I am currently working in the WIC Program.

Read Full Interview

Ashley Harpst

Ashley Harpst, BS
Dietetic Intern
Recreational Surfer

Emory University

December 6th, 2006

I graduated from San Diego State University with a BS Degree in Foods and Nutrition. I love to surf. I also play soccer, roller blade, and I fence.

I chose the Emory University Hospital Dietetic Internship because this internship has a well respected clinical nutrition care program. This internship is challenging, but I am enjoying it because each rotation is unique and stimulating. I would like to do my elective rotation at Georgia Tech and work with the athletes. Lastly, the preceptors are very knowledgeable and supportive.

Read Full Interview

Pam Nisevich

Pam Nisevich, BS
Dietetic Intern
Graduate Student

Ohio State University

I’m from Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton, OH. An avid athlete, I competed in several sports in high school. As an undergraduate at Miami University (Ohio), I focused on soccer and running and toured the country with my club soccer teammates representing the Miami RedHawks. In my free time I enjoyed trail running and competing in a bike races. I still play soccer and bike but most of my efforts are focused on running. I am fresh from the finish line of the Boston Marathon, my fifth marathon. Not highly competitive in the marathon; my strong suit is the half-marathon.

Read Full Interview

Jeremy Johnson

Jeremy Johnson, BS
Public Health Nutritionist
Bodybuilder Competitor

I'm from the small town of Baxley in rural southeast Georgia. I began college majoring in architecture. Having taken drafting classes throughout high school, I thought architecture was the direction I wanted to go. However, it wasn't long before I became bored and started looking for a new direction. Nutrition had always interested me. Growing up in the deep-south, with the fried foods and down-home cooking we are known for, I became overweight as a child and early teen.

Read Full Interview

Amy Goodson

Amy Goodson
Dietetic Intern
Graduate Student

Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX

I am currently finishing my last year of graduate school in the Exercise and Sports Nutrition (ESN) Program at TWU Denton. My original degree is in speech communications with a minor in kinesiology from Texas Christian University (TCU). I've always been very interested in fitness and nutrition. I became an aerobics instructor in 2000 and a personal trainer in 2003.

Read Full Interview

Abigail Larson

Abigail Larson
Elite cross-country skier

Hello fellow SCAN members and dietetic students! I am Abigail Larson, BS Sports Science from Northern Michigan University, MS Exercise Science from Northern Michigan University, and dietetic verification statement from Montana State University; currently living in Bend, Oregon, soon to move back to Bozeman, Montana, and then on the road to Torino, Italy, site of the 2006 Winter Olympics!

Read Full Interview

Karen Ketsche

Nuwanee Kirihennedige
Dietetic Intern
San Francisco State University, CA

October 24, 2009

My name is Nuwanee; I was born in Japan and I love eating and cooking. I started Karate when I was 9 years old. I learned Kendo, a Japanese traditional martial art using bamboo sword to fight, when I was a junior high school student. Currently I lift weights to stay strong and be in shape.

After graduating from high school in Osaka, Japan in 2002, I moved to the United States to obtain a world-class education in sports nutrition. Since I did not speak any English at the time I had to attend language school to pursue my goals. Within one year I enrolled in Ohlone College, a community college in Fremont, CA.

Read Full Interview

Kathleen Pollard

Kathleen Pollard
Dietetics Student
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

Jan 01, 2009

I have always had an interest in nutrition. My mom is a Family and Consumer Science teacher. She enjoyed cooking and talking about foods and I always wanted to help in the kitchen. When I entered college I was not sure what to pursue because I had many interests. I decided on nutrition after realizing there were many different areas an RD can study. I also realized I could incorporate many of my other interests, athletics, international travel, marketing, and natural and organic products, into a nutrition career.

Read Full Interview

Namrita O'Dea

Namrita O'Dea
Master's Student in Nutrition
Georgia State University

November 26, 2007

After earning a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1998, I worked in software consulting for 8 years before deciding to change my career. Always interested in physical activity, I started adventure bicycle racing in 2001 and endurance mountain bike racing in 2004. While I raced primarily for fun, I knew I wanted to become better. I also knew that something missing was holding me back from performing better and, to a large extent, it was nutrition. I became more interested in nutrition for athletes and loved every minute I was able to spend with athletes.

Read Full Interview

Kristen Gravani

Kristen Gravani
Dietetics Student
Cornell University

May 28, 2007

My name is Kristen Gravani and I am from Ithaca, NY. I am Nutritional Sciences major with an RD concentration/Communications minor. I am currently completing my junior year at Cornell University. I race for the Alpine Ski team at Cornell, so I am aware of the demands on a college athlete.

Read Full Interview

Nicole Hayes

Nicole Hayes, RD
Clinical Dietitian
Professional Figure Skater

February 10, 2007

I recently graduated from a Coordinated Dietetic Internship/Master’s Degree program in Cleveland, Ohio. My dietetic internship was at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center and my graduate degree in Nutrition is from Case Western Reserve University. I successfully passed the RD exam on the first attempt, and currently I’m a Clinical Dietitian at a community-based hospital in the suburbs of Cleveland.

Read Full Interview

Adam Romney

Adam Romney
Dietetics and Nutrition and Community Health
Department of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University

June 12, 2006

I am a senior in Nutrition and Community Health as well as Dietetics at the Ohio State University. I will also graduate with a Minor in Exercise Science. I hope to work in community nutrition or more directly in sports nutrition. While the thought of working with professional athletes is alluring, I'm leaning more towards working with physically active populations in general.

Read Full Interview

Ann Dunaway

Ann Dunaway, BS
Graduate Student
Georgia State University

June 12, 2006

My name is Ann Dunaway. I earned a BA in Psychology from Davidson College and later continued my education at Georgia State University where I completed a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics in May 2005. Currently I am enrolled in the combined Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship at Georgia State University. I plan to graduate in December 2006. Although I am uncertain now about pursuing a PhD, that may be an option in the future and a good reason for completing a Master's project.

Read Full Interview

Rachel Ernzen, BS
Dietetic Intern
VCU Health Systems, Richmond, VA

I received my undergraduate degree in Dietetics (Nutrition and Fitness emphasis) from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, in 2004. I completed a dietetic internship at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA in 2005. This is an 11-month generalist program with rotations in clinical dietetics, foodservice management, and community nutrition including five weeks of "affiliation" time. My internship exposed me to a wide variety of nutrition avenues and also provided me with flexibility to explore.

Read Full Interview

Lara Engler

Lara Engler
Sports Nutrition
Undergraduate, Drexel University

I am Lara Engler from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. During high school I was a varsity field hockey and soccer player as well as a student athletic trainer. Currently, I am a senior at Drexel University in Philadelphia, majoring in Nutrition and Food Science. I plan to graduate in June 2006.

Read Full Interview